serac

noun

se·​rac sə-ˈrak How to pronounce serac (audio)
sā-
: a pinnacle, sharp ridge, or block of ice among the crevasses of a glacier

Examples of serac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This year's Everest climbing season began late because of the risk from a huge serac hanging over the key route to the summit. CBS News, 22 May 2026 This year’s climbing season began later than usual after a large serac temporarily blocked the main route, delaying teams at base camp until the path was cleared, CNN reported. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 21 May 2026 But for more than two weeks, a massive and unstable block of ice, or serac, stalled them from moving farther up the peak. Pasang Rinzee Sherpa, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 There’s good reason for caution: seracs have caused fatal disasters in the past. Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 In 2022, 11 people died when a massive serac on the Marmolada Glacier disintegrated, showering a group of hikers with ice and rock. Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 16 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French sérac, literally, a kind of white cheese, from Medieval Latin seracium whey, from Latin serum whey — more at serum

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of serac was in 1860

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Serac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serac. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

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